VietNamNet Bridge – Two albums of vinyl records (analog recordings) were released recently in HCM City, introducing a new element in the local industry that is dominated by digital CDs and DVDs.

The album, entitled Mot Thoi Da Xa (Passing Time), has been produced by Music Faces Records, one of the region's leading music producers, in co-operation with Gia Dinh Audio.

It has 11 romantic songs written by veteran musicians such as Thanh Tung and Truong Huy, who were famous in the 1990s.

Mot Thoi Da Xa features young singers Uyen Linh, Thuy Chi, Thai Trinh and Huong Giang.

"We decided to use analog technology to make our new productions original and with perfect sound," composer Duc Tri of Music Faces Records, who has more than 10 years of experience in recording, said.

Tri's company produced two vinyl albums last year, entitled Lang Le Tieng Duong Cam (Piano Sounds) and Ngan Thu Ao Tim (Purple Autumn), both featuring famous composers such as Nguyen Anh 9, Trinh Cong Son and Trinh Nam Son.

Tri said a vinyl record has a groove carved into it that mirrors the original sound's waveform. This means no information is lost. The output of a record player is analog and can be fed directly to the amplifier with no conversion.

After eight years of singing, Ha Van has released her first album, entitled Tieng Hat Ha Van (The Voice of Ha Van), a production by Tieng Hat Viet, an entertainment agency owned by pop star Dam Vinh Hung.

The work has ballad songs in praise of the country and its people, composed by Lam Phuong and Huynh Anh.

"I invested a lot in recording because I wanted my fans to feel my voice deeply," Van said, adding that the wave forms from a vinyl recording could be more accurate and be heard in the richness of the sound.

In the 1960s when vinyl was the only source of high-quality recorded music, fans found it hard to produce it because of its high cost. That remains so today also.

Analog turntables are offered by professional suppliers and cost up to VND100 million (US$4,500), depending on quality.

Despite the high price, more than 3,500 copies of Lang Le Tieng Duong Cam and Ngan Thu Ao Tim were sold in the first month of their release in HCM City.

Mot Thoi Da Xa sells for nearly VND1 million (nearly $50), 10 times the cost of a digital CD or DVD.

The album's producers believe in their business. More than 2,500 copies have been produced.